Is it obligatory to shave or shorten the entire head, or is shortening part of it sufficient?

Al-Huwaini: Regarding the shortening of hair for the one performing 'Umrah or Hajj, does he shorten from all of the hair or from part of it?

The Shaykh : Yes, this is a very pertinent question. The pilgrim performing Hajj or 'Umrah has a choice when exiting the state of ihram: he may either shave his head or shorten his hair. Although the scholars agree that shaving is better, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): He said it three times. They said, "O Messenger of Allah, and for those who shorten?" He said: . It is very clear that shaving is better than shortening. But does shortening part of the hair suffice, or is it necessary to shorten all of the hair? I say that for women, shortening part of it suffices, but for men, it does not. If it were sufficient for men to shave part of the hair on their heads, that would be impossible. If it were sufficient for some of them to shave part of the hair on their heads, it would be permissible for them to shorten part of the hair on their heads. However, shaving part of the hair on the head is forbidden and not permissible, because it is qaza' (shaving the head in a way that leaves some hair), and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited qaza'. He said in some authentic hadiths: . And our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) mentioned in: . No one with an understanding of the Arabic language understands from His saying to mean: the entire head, and "shortening your heads" to mean part of the head. This is inconsistent speech. If means the entire head, then "shortening your heads" means the entire shortening. Therefore, it is not permissible for one who wants to limit himself to shortening the hair on his head unless the shortening covers the entire head. The best means today to achieve this comprehensiveness in shortening is the known machine (clippers). The scissors are not the intended tool, as some hairs may escape the scissors, whereas the machine covers all the hair. There is no harm if the machine is number two or three; let it be so. The important thing is that the shortening covers the entire head. As for women, they only take some of their hair, and it suffices to say here that it is not befitting for men to imitate women by taking some of their hair; rather, they must include all the hair in the shortening. Yes.
Al-Huwaini: He says that they took from all of the hair, but not all of it from here and here and here. Do they have any sin on them?

The Shaykh : Of course, this contradicts the generality of the text. He has something on him; no, he has nothing on him.
Al-Huwaini: Regarding the descriptive hadiths that describe some people, is a legal ruling derived from them? For example, the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . Some people derive from this that it is not permissible for a woman to let her hair hang down so that it appears like the hump of a camel. Is this correct?

The Shaykh : This is correct if the intention is to imitate the "clothed yet naked" women. But if it is an accidental occurrence and there is no fashion—as they say today—that women are influenced by and imitate on the slightest occasion, then it is permissible without this intention. However, if it is intended, it is not permissible.

Another questioner : O Shaykh, regarding this person who shortened a small amount of his hair and did not take, as I mentioned, the full shortening, does it mean he exited the state of ihram completely but is sinful?

The Shaykh : The answer has already been given. Yes, but he is deficient in applying the generality of the text.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.